Animated panel



Jan. 20, 1970 Filed Aug. 8. 1966' /6 A). I 1 1 55 i 28 i 32 i ,1 Z 441/: 54' K|t 4 l h 46 2. 36 30\4I| I 26 L g /0 L I! 55g j 5 44 INVENTOR. John A. Koch BY,

United States Patent US. Cl. 35-75 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A visual training aid comprising a panel structure having animated or movable parts provided thereon, with said movable parts being disposed within recesses or openings in the panel itself. The desired opening is cut or otherwise provided in the panel, and the movable part may be formed from the material removed from the opening. A longitudinally extending slot is provided in the side edges of the opening, and bearing members are carried by the movable member, with said bearing member being en gageable with the slots whereby the movable member may be readily reciprocated within the opening. The slots and bearing members are so arranged as to retain the rear face of the movable member out of engagement with the surface of the recessed portion of the panel, thus reducing wear on the surface of the recessed portion. In addition, the bearing members are sufiiciently resilient to facilitate installation of the movable members in the openings or recesses by permitting a snap type assembly.

This invention relates to improvements in training aids or instruction devices and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to visual training aids of animated or movable panel type for facilitating the presentation of mechanical, electrical, or other suitable devices.

Visual training aids having animated or movable portions, such as the animated panel structure disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,490,690, issued Dec. 6, 1949, and entitled Method for Constructing Training Mock-Up, are in relatively widespread use today for facilitating training or instruction in the operation, or the like, of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, or other types of devices. Whereas these panel structures and particularly those as shown in my aforementioned patent, have proven to be effective in the instruction-presentation methods of training, certain disadvantages have appeared with continued use of these devices. For example, moving parts of the training aid or animated panel structure are usually mounted in complementary cut-away portions of the panel member. The mating edges of the movable member and the opening or cut-away portion in which it is mounted are usually provided with oppositely arranged undercut portions for permitting slidable movement of the movable member while precluding loss of the movable member from the panel structure itself. Consequently, the portion of the panel structure which is removed to provide the cut-away portion normally cannot be used to construct the movable member to be mounted therein, which results in a waste of material. In addition, the movable member rides against or slides along the fiat surface of that portion of the back panel or back up member which is disposed in the cut-away area. The constant movement of the slide or movable window frequently wears away the surface of the back panel, particularly any paint or other material which may be disposed thereon. Furthermore, reciprocal movement or sliding movement of the movable member with the cut-away portion often causes a binding between the complementary under-cut edges which renders the movement somewhat difficult.

The present invention provides a novel method of construction for the movable portions of an animated panel 3,490,154 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 particularly designed and constructed for overcoming the above disadvantages. The novel animated panel structure of the present invention provides bearing or washer members slidably engageable with complementary slots whereby the movement of the slidable member is guided in a manner substantially precluding binding thereof. In addition, the novel manner of construction for the movable member permits utilization of the material or portion which is cut-away from the panel when fabricating the cut-away portion within which the movable member is to be mounted. This novel construction provides for economy of manufacture and efiiciency of operation not before possible.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved structure for a training aid device, or the like, having movable parts for facilitating construction and presentation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an animated panel structure wherein movable members may be mounted thereon in a manner substantially precluding binding of the movable member during operation thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an animated panel structure wherein a cut-away portion is provided for receiving a movable member and the portion of the panel which is cut-away may be utilized in the construction of the movable member itself.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of the present invention -will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an animated panel embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of a sliding washer member which may be utilized in the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 10 generally indicates a substantially fiat panel structure of any suitable construction. As depicted herein, the panel structure 10 is preferably a laminated structure wherein a base member or back plate 12 is provided with a front panel 14 removably secured thereon in any suitable manner, such as by a plurality of screws 16 or the like. The front panel 14 may be provided with any suitable number of cut-away portions, as shown at 16, in accordance with the desired number of movable parts which are to be mounted on the panel structure 10. Of course, the cutaway portions 16 may be of any desired or suitable configuration in accordance with the overall purpose and design of the training panel 10, and the rectangular shape depicted herein is merely illustrative of the invention. A slidable member 18 is disposed within the cut-away portion 16 for reciprocal movement therein. As depicted in FIGURE 1, the slidable member 18 is in the general form of a piston or the like, but it is to be understood that the relative configuration of both the movable member 18 and cut-away portion 16 are illustrative only and any desired structure or configuration may be represented in a generally similar manner.

The front panel 14 is preferably constructed froma substantially fiat panel or board of any suitable material, and the cut-away or window portion 16 is provided by sawing or otherwise severing the panel 14 in the desired configuration and at the desired location for the cut-away. That portion of the panel 14 which is removed therefrom to provide the window 16 is preferably utilized for construction of the slide 18. It will be readily apparent that the initial overall dimensions or size of the slide 18 will thus be complementary to or substantially the same as that of the cut-away portion 16. Of course, the outer periphery of the slide 18 may then be shaped in any well known manner to provide the desired configuration for illustration of the desired mechanical device (not shown), electrical device (not shown), or the like, for which the visual training aid or panel device '10 is to be utilized.

The slide 1-8 will thus be provided with substantially flat opposed surfaces or faces 20 and 22 and will be of any desired outer peripheral configuration, such as the piston type generally depicted herein. One of the slide faces, for example the face 22, may be disposed substantially adjacent that portion of the surface 24 of the back panel 12 which is exposed in the window 16, and the opposite face 20 will then be exposed in the window or cut-away 16, as particularly shown in FIGURES l and 2.. The particular slide 18 shown herein is provided with two spaced enlarged head portions 26 and 28. The right hand edges 30 and 32 of the heads 26 and 28, as viewed in FIGURE 1 are in substantial longitudinal alignment and ride along or move adjacent the right hand edge 34 of the window 16. Similarly, the left hand edges 36 and 38 of the heads 26 and 28, respectively, ride against or move adjacent the left hand edge 40 of the cut-away 16. It will be apparent that the reciprocal movement of the slide 18 within the window 16 is guided by the engagement between the edges 34 and 40 and the sides of the heads 26 and 28.

Each of the side edges 30 and 32 is provided with a slit or recess 42 for receiving a washer or bearing member 44 therein Similarly, each of the side edges 36 and 38 is provided with a slit or recess 46 for receiving a bearing or washer 48 therein. The washers 44 and 48 may be constructed from any suitable material, such as nylon, Teflon, or the like, and may be. of any suitable configuration. For example, the washer 44a as shown in FIGURE 4 is of substantially annular configuration and is provided with a canted or angular slit 50 which facilitates compression of the overall size or outer dimension of the washer during installation thereon in the slide 18 as will be hereinafter set forth. Of course, the material from which the washers are constructed is preferably of suitable resiliency or has sufficient spring-like qualities to facilitate disposition of the washer within the recess during assembly of the slide 18 within the window 16 even if the washer is of a discshaped configuration as shown in FIGURES 1 through 3.

A recess or longitudinally extending slit 52 is provided in the edge 34 of the window 16 and a similar recess 54 is provided in the edge 40 of the window 16. Each of the recesses 52 and 54 are preferably disposed in the respective edge in such a manner that the distance between the lower edge of each of the recesses and the surface 24 is of greater length than the distance between the lower edge of each of the recesses 42 and 46 and the surface 22 of the slide 18. The washers 44 disposed in the recesses 42 extend into the recess 52 and the washers 48 disposed within the recesses 46 extend into the recess 54. The washers 44 and 48 provide a two-fold function; first, the washers provide bearings for facilitating the sliding movement of the piston 18 within the window 16, and second, the washers cooperate with the recesses 42, 46, 52 and 54 for retaining the piston or slide 18 in position in the window and guiding the movement of the slide therein and substantially precluding any binding of the slide during movement thereof.

The fact that the distance between the surface24- and the bottom of the grooves 52 and 54 is greater than the distance between the surface 22 and the bottom of the grooves 42 and 46 permits the washers 44 and 48 to re'-' configuration may be provided in the front panel 14 by severing that portion of the panel 14 in any well known manner and removing the portion of the panel thus cutaway or severed therefrom. The material removed from the opening may then be utilized for construction of the slide member, such as the piston 18. The opposed side edges of the opening along which the slide member is to move may then be provided with the slits or recesses, as shown at 52 and 54, and the mating edges of the slide member may be provided with the desired number of spaced recesses as shown at 42 and 46. The washers 44 and 48 may then be inserted or disposed within the respective recesses 42 and 46, and the slide member 18 may be placed within the respective opening 16 with the washers being disposed within the recesses 52 and 54. The washers 44 and 48 are of sufiicient resiliency to permit the assembly of the slide member 18 within the opening 16, and'in addition, the construction of the slide member itself normally permits sufiicient flexing thereof for facilitating disposition of the washers 42 and 46 within the respective recesses 52 and 54. The panel 14 may then be secured to the back panel 12 in any suitable manner such as the screws 16.

As hereinbefore set forth, the washers cooperate with the recesses for retaining the slide member securely within the respective opening and provide bearings for facilitating the movement of the slide member therein. Binding of the slide during operation thereof is substantially eliminated, and the surface 24 of the back panel 12 is protected from wear thus providing an economical and efiicient visual training aid panel structure.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel animated panel structure wherein not only is it possible to construct the movable or sliding members from the material removed from the site of the windows or openings, but also movement of the sliding member is facilitated and is secured within the opening in a manner which greatly reduces wear on the surface of the back panel structure. The novel panel is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made Within the scope of the following claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A training panel comprising a .panel structure having a cut-away portion thereon, a movable member removably disposed in said cut-away portion, said movable member being provided with peripheral, edge portions slidably engageable with a portion of the edges of the cut-away portion, said peripheral edge portions of said movable member being provided with recess means, yieldable bearing means carried by the movable member and removably disposed in said recess means, each of said edges of the cut-away portion being provided with a longitudinally extending slot for removably and slidingly receiving the bearing means therein for facilitating installation and removal of the movable member with respect to the cut-away portion in a manner precluding disassembly of the panel and for facilitating movement of the movable member within the cut-away portion, said bearing means comprising a substantially fiat annular washer member, said washer member having means permitting flexing thereof for altering the outer contour thereof during insertion and withdrawal of the movable member with respect to the cut-away portion.

2. A training panel comprising a panel structure having a cut-away portion thereon, a movable member removably disposed in said cut-away portion, said movable member being provided with peripheral edge portions slidably engageable with a portion of the edges of the cut-away portion, said peripheral edge portions of said movable member being provided with recess means, yieldable bearing means carried by the movable member and removably disposed in said recess means, each of said edges of the cut-away portion being provided with a longitudinally extending slot for removably and slidingly receiving the bearing means therein for facilitating installation and removal of the movable member with respect to the cut-away portion in a manner precluding disassembly of the panel and for facilitating movement of the movable member Within the cut-away portion, said panel structure comprising a substantially flat back panel, a front panel removably secured to one face of the back panel, said cut-away portion being provided in said front panel and exposing a portion of said back panel, said movable member being retained in the cut-away portion and out of engagement with the back panel portion exposed therein, the distance between the inwardly disposed face of the movable member and the recess means in the peripheral edges thereof being less than the distance between the back panel portion exposed in the cut-away portion and the longitudinal slots in the edges of the cut-away portion whereby said bearing means cooperates with said recess means and slots to provide said out of engagement position between the movable member and the exposed back panel portion, and said bearing means comprising a substantially flat disc member, said disc member being provided with means permitting flexing thereof to alter the outer configuration thereof during insertion and removal of the movable member with respect to the cut-away portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,218,993 3/1917 Fox 3575 2,535,619 12/1950 Wright 3 5-42 2,629,941 3/1953 Allgaier 35-13 2,028,718 1/1936 Heine 3086 2,505,592 4/1950 Stone 308-6 2,733,972 2/1956 Diack.

3,393,019 7/1968 Fraser et al. 3083.6

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner H. S. SKOGQUIST, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 13; 3086 

